Machine



May 31, 1932. w. A. BATES GRATING TURNING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 3l, 1932. W` A` BATES GRATING TURNING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 ""HHHHI raras junrrsI Parar e f WALTER A.k BATES, or GARY, INDIANmAssiGNoR To GARY STRUCTURAL sTEEL-eom- PANY, OFGARY, INDIANA, A conronarioiv or DELAWARE GRATING TURNING: MACHINE yiippiiea'mn inea' May 15,

YU areusually spaced apart a greater distance than the space between the longitudinal bars and extend through the longitudinal bars. The topedges of the transverse bars are in the ksaine horizontal plane as the top edges il' of the longitudinal bars. The transverse bars rest on uncut portions of the longitudinal bars and are provided with slots down-v wardly extending from Jrhetop Yedges to receive the upper edges of the longitudinal bars.

In forming such a grating slugs or slots are first cut out of the longitudinal barsin which slots the transverse bars .are Vfinally positioned, butinorder to allow the transverse barsto be insertedthrough the longitudinal "f5 -barsand arrangedin the'desired position, itI

is rnecessary to cut out artongue or finger from the longitudinal bars which may be bent at an angle normalthereto to provide a wide opening, thus allowing each-transverse 3"" bar to be insertedrthrough the several wide openings of the longitudinal bars in a horiz'ontalposition. The transversebar is then lturned up to a vertical postion and the bent Atongue is turned back into the plane of the longitudinal bar `and presses against Vthe vertical side ofthe transverse bar. In this manner a very strong and rigid grating lis formed havingvno parts whichwill become loosened through vibration, andY giving a long "1' period'of life'in use.

This specification discloses a machine which vhas beenV developed to perform the 0p- Aeration'of turning the transverse bars fromk a horizontal to a vertical position. It is,

A', v Y i. therefore, the purpose of my invention to pro- `vide a machinebywhich the operation of` turningtlie transverse'bars of the partially completed vgrating from a yhorizontal to a Avertical position, may be 'eiiciently performed.

1929.V Serial No. 363,283.

lt is an'objectof my invention to support the grating and intermittently feed it fori'vardthrough the machine which is y,designed to intermittently turn each transverse "bar l into placewhile tl'iegrating is in a stationary position.

It is vfurther an object of iny invention to use a ,plurality or" upwardly moving fingers which will 'engage the transverse bar as it is supported in a horizontal position and turn it'to'a vertical positionvand inwhich the backs of tlie fingers are guided by thetongues which have'been bent out of the longitudinal bars, thus preventing any longitudinal move, ment ofltliegrating during the turning operation. Y

isadditional features of my invention I may support the grating on rollers and provide-rollers abovethe grating, atthe point where the transverse bars are turned, which contact with the upper surface yof the grating'and prevent any upward movement thereof. Also, l) may use a 'friction coupling as a part of thezmeans which force the turning fingers into engagement with the grating, thus preventing any breakage should the transverse bars not be in proper position to be readily turned in place. i

Additional objectsand advantages of my improved construction will be more 4clearly evident as a preferred embodiment is fully described in connection with the attached drawingsin which- Figure l is a vertical sectional elevation of the central portion of my improved machine.

Figurefl is a plan view showing akportion of the top of the machine.

Figure 3 is alperspective view illustrating the steps involvedin manufacturing the grating. f

Figure l is a: detail view of a portion ofthe feeding means.'`V l `liigure y5 is a diagrainmatieal sketch showing the three positions of the grating as it `moves through the machine.

iff. tv

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional elevation on line 6 6 of Figure 5. l

First having reference lto fully lillustrates thevmanner of forining'ymy improved grating, thev bars l forming the Figure 3 whichL p longitudinal members are shown somewhat wider than the cross bars or transverse members 2. The first operation to be performed involves the slotting of the longitudinal members 1 by cutting out a transverse slug at spaced points. In the slots which are formed, the traverse bars 2 are finally held. Longitudinal cuts are then made in the bars 1 extending from the initial slots, thus forming ton es 3 which are bentinto positionsnormal to t e longitudinal members, as shown at the lower end of the bars 1 in Figure 3. The transverse bars are formed with downwardly extending slots 4 according to the desired spacing of the longitudinal bars. After the lon itudinal bars have been arranged in correcy spaced positions, the transverse bars 2 are inserted through the wide openings provided by the bending of the tongues 3. It will be noted that, due to the short vertical height of the openings, the bars 2 can only be inserted in horizontal atwise position, as shown at the'lower end of Figure 3. After the bars l and 2 have been correctly lined up, the grating is ready to have the operation of turning the bars 2 performed thereon, thus it is necessary ,to turn the bars 2 from a ilatwise position to a vertical edgewise position in such a manner that the top uncut edge of the bars 1- will extend through the slots 4 of the transverse bars 2. This position is shown by Y the middle bar 2 in Figure 3. As a filial operation it is necessary to bend thetongues 3 back into the plane of the longitudinal bars 1, as shown at the upper end of Figure 3. The yrating is then completed and it will be noted that the end of tongue 3 abuts against the transverse bar 2 and holds it tightly in place. It will also be noted that the bars 2 rest upon uncut portions of the longitudinal bars 1. Therefore, there is no opportunity for the ating to become loose due to loading vibratlon or other causes. y

In forming a support for the grating so that it maybe operated upon, I provide standards 5 supporting a table 6 along which the grating is longitudinally moved. Supporting rolls 7 are shown having a plurality of radial circular slots 8. The table, partially shown in Figure 1, extends farther to the right and allows the longitudinal main bars of the grating, after the slots have been cut out and the ton es bent therefrom, to be placed longitudinally of the table in properly spaced relation. The longitudinal bars seat in the respective slots 8 of a plurality of the rolls 7 which maintain bars in spaced relation as they move forward. kAs shown in the plan view of the table, I provide a sufficient number of slots 8 so that thirty-six main bars may be placed on the table. Ofcourse it is understood that the whole width of the table need not be utilized if it is desired to manufacture a narrower grating. If it is desired to manufacture a grating having a different spacing of the longitudinal bars, a different set of supporting rolls 7 may be substituted having the desired spacing of slots 8. After the bars 1 have been placed in the proper relation on the table, the transverse bars 2 are inserted through the openings provided by the bending out of the tongues 3, as previously described. 'Ihe grating is then ready to be moved forward and operated upon to have the transverse bars turned into vertical positions.y I, therefore, provide two independent sets of feeding means 9 and 10. The construction of each set of feeding means is similar and therefore I will only describe the detail construction of the feeding means at the forward end of the machine.

I show bases 11 bolted to each side of the table 6 and to the tops of which are secured by bolts 12 bearing brackets 13. A transverse shaft 14 is j ournalled in bearings 13 and is provided with an extension 15 to which is secured a handle 16 for manually turning the shaft 14. It is apparent that power operated means could be used if so desired. Upon the shaft 14 are secured spaced pinions 17 which cooperate with racks 18. The racks 18 are mounted on a sliding table 19. The table 19 is adapted to slide longitudinally of the table 6 in guideways formed in the side bases 11. The table 19 is provided with downwardly extending pivot ears 2O forming supports for a shaft 21 to which are secured a plurality of pivot fingers 22.k The fingers 22 have downwardly extending extensions 23 which are adapted to engage behind the bent tongues 3 f of the longitudinal bars 1. The manual rota.-

tion of the shaft .14 will canse the racks 18 together with the lingers 23 to move longitudinally of the table and thus `by the cooperation of the extensions 23 with the bent tongues 3 the grating is moved.,

It is my purpose to intermittently move the grating forward a distance equal to the space between the transverse bars 2 and since I may use this machine in manufacturing grating having different spaces between the transverse bars 2, I provide an adjustable stop 24. The stop 24 is designed to cooperate with the movement of the sliding rack tafble 19 and prevent movement of the grating beyond the desired position. Upon operating the feeding means in the reversed direction it will be apparent that the pivoted arrangement ol' the fingers 22 will allow the extensions 23 to ride over the transverse bars 2 and tongues 3 whereby the feedingl means may be positioned to aga-in engage and feed the grating.

I provide at the center of my machine operating means for turning the transverse bars `and therefore show a base 25 to which is secured a bearing bracket 26 for a power shaft 27, to which is secured the pinion 28, which meshes with a larger gear 29, which is secured by a friction coupling, to an internal crank collar 30, pivoted on shaft 31. A connecting rod 32 is pivoted to the cranl: collar'30. The other end of the connecting rod 32 is pivoted toa horizontal vertically slidable bar 33. The bar 33 slides in guides 34. To the vertically slidable bar 33 are secured in spaced slots a plurality of upwardly extending fingers 35 having tapered upper ends 36. An upward movement of the fingers 36 will cause the tapered ends to engage the transverse bar 2 and turn it from a hliiizontal position into the desired vertical position.

I also provide rollers 38 which are sup-J allows the movement of the fingers 36 to be prevented if the resistance is too great due to any inaccuracies in the spacing of slots 4 of the transverse bars 2 or other reasons which prevent the bars 2 from being readily turned in place, thus any breakage of the parts is prevented.

The different posit-ions of the grating and its cooperation with the fingers 36 are shown in Figures 5 and V6. The initial horizontal position of the bar 2 is shown at' the right hand end, while the center position shows bar 2 turned to a vertical position by the` tapered fingers 36. It kwill be apparent from this view that the fingers 36 fill the space between the bar 2 and the bent tongue 3. rlhus any longitudinal movement of the grating is prevented during the turning operation. The left hand view of Figures 5 and 6 shows the grating as it is delivered from the machine. The grating is then ready to have a further operation of turning the tongues 3 back into place performed. It is apparent that the double set kof feeding means allows the grating to be initially fed by the forward feeding means and when the last transverse kbars are being operated upon, the rearward feeding means 10 may be used to progress the grating. n

Many modifications and changes might be made. in the particular design' or arrangement of parts but intend to include all such changes which fall within the spirit ofmyv invention `as expressed in the appended claims. l Y

I claim: .v

l. In a machine for forming "grating, means for supporting aplurality Vof longitudinal bars in horizontally spaced edgewise positions and ay plurality of transverse bars supported in openings formed in said longi- 'means 'for supporting a plurality of longitudinalbars in horizontally spaced edgewise positions and aplurality of transverse bars supported in horizontal flat positions in openings formedin 'said longitudinal bars, means `for vprogressing the longitudinal bars together with the transversebars and means for turning each of said 'transverse bars to a =vertical edgewise position, said'last named means comprising upwardly' moving' fingers.

r3. In a machine for forming grating comy.posed'of a plurality of longitudinal bars and a plurality of transverse bars extending vthrough openings in the longitudinal bars,

said transverse barsbeing initially in'hori- 'zontal'flat positions, means for progressing the grating `and means for turning each of said transverse bars relative to said longi- 'tudinalbars to a verticaledgewise position.

4. nIn a machineffor forming grating composed vof a plurality of longitudinaly bars and va plurality of transverse Vbars extending through openings inthe longitudinal bars,

"saidtransverse bars being initially in horivzontallflat positions, means for intermittently progressing the grating af distance' equal 'to the space 'between the transverse bars and means'for successively turning each transverse'bar-relative to said longitudinal bars y, to afverti'cal position.

f5. Invia machine for forming grating coinposedofa plurality `of longitudinal bars and a plurality ofjtransverse bars extending 'through openings in .the longitudinallbars7 said transverse bars being initiallyy in hori- "zontalflat positions, means for intermittently progressing the lgrating a ydistance equal to the space between the "transverse bars and means for successively turning'f each trans-` verse bar to a vertical position, said last named -means comprising upwardly moving fingers. i f v Y6. In `a inacliineA for forming .grating com- '.posed-,ofaplurality of longitudiiialbars and la plurality-of .transverse bars extending `through openings in theV longitudinal bars, 4said transverse bars-being initially in horizontalfflat positions, means for supporting vthegrating, means rfor intermittently progressing the rgrati-ng a distance equal to the space between the transverse bars, means for `turning' each of said transverse 'bars toa vertical edgewise positionand means" for pref venting movement of the grating away from the supporting means as each of said transverse bars are turned into position.

7. In a grating yforming machine, means for progressing the grating and means transversely movable relative to the path of said grating for turning the transverse bars of said grating through a right angle.

` 8. In a grating forming machine, means for horizontally progressing the grating and 5 means transversely movable relative to the path of said grating for turning each of the transverse bars of said grating through a right angle.

9. In a grating forming machine, means for progressing the grating and means comprising a plurality of tapered fingers transversely movable relative to the path of said grating, said lingers being adapted to turn the transverse bars of said grating through a right angle.

10. In a grating forming machine, means for horizontally progressing the grating. means for preventing upward or downward movement of said grating and means transi versely movable relative to the path of said grating for turning the transverse bars of said grating through a right angle.

11. In a grating forming machine` means for supporting the grating comprising a plurality of grooved rollers, means for intermittently progressing the grating, a plurality of tapered fingers adapted to move across the path of said grating and means for moving the lingers, said means including a friction coupling to allow movement of the fingers to be prevented if excessive resistance is encountered.

12. A machine for forming grating composed of a plurality of longitudinal bars and a plurality of transverse bars extending through openings in the longitudinal bars, said transverse bars being initially placed in the openings of the longitudinal bars in horizontal'flat positions, means for 40 moving the grating in one direction and means for successively engaging each of said transverse bars to turn said transverse bars through a right angle to vertical edgewise position.

13. A machine for forming grating composed of a plurality of longitudinal bars having spaced slots therein extending lengthwise, a plurality of transverse bars initially extending in fiat horizontal positions through said slots, said transverse bars having spaced slots cut therein from one longitudinal edge and means for successively turning each of said transverse bars through a right angle to vertical edgewise positions with the lon- '55 gitudinal bars extending through the slots of the transverse bars.

Signed at Gary, Indiana7 this 11th day of May, 1929.

WALTER A. BATES. 

